|
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Hey Gang,
Just got back from a trek to Al's with Cliff, and what a visit! We all (spouses included) had a great time, and Cliff picked himself up a gorgeous sounding legend 12 string!
I'm not sure which was more fun, trying out a plethora of gorgeous Ovations, or just chatting with Al...both lent for a great time. Al is quite a character, and had us laughing with some great stories about his adventures...the man was incredibly generous with his friendship, knowledge, and time. Thanks a bunch, Al!
I must say, he really wowed me with some of the guitars he had available. He's totally right about the shallow bowl thing...I had first hand experience trying out some shallows that really had serious balls, wicked volume acoustically, and packed serious punch! (i.e. textured top Adamas 12 string & Cliff's new legend). He's not talking out his butt, these guitars really popped.
This time I was just along for the ride to try out some guitars, but if my accountant and "wife" wouldn't shoot me, I'd buy a guitar from Al. He's definitely a source I recommend for new & used stuff. Keep him in mind when you're looking for a new "O"!
Special thanks to Cliff and Jeanette for a great visit, good conversation in the traffic, and for driving! You guys were very fun...we love ya!
Johnny |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7233
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | "Al is quite a character, and had us laughing with some great stories about his adventures...the man was incredibly generous with his friendship, knowledge, and time."
Boy, Alpep is gonna be mad when he finds out someone was impersonating him, at his own house even. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 110
| LoL Miles |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Al was probably in the basement squeezing some poor bastard's head in a vice who had inadvertently made some disparaging remark about an MOB. If Saddam and Uday had a bunch of doubles, why wouldn't Al.
Completely anonymous post here |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Although the thought of body doubies is an appealing one, the idea of actually coming up with folks as ugly as me is rather remote.
I just wanted to say the it was a pleasure to have Johnny, MIchele, Cliff and Jeanette over and we had a blast. Lots of fun opening up cases and checking out some really cool Ovations. I am sure if Johnny brought his credit card he would have been in big trouble since I think his eyes got bigger with every case that popped open!!!!
Although there are many negatives to this business the postive is that I do get to meet many musicians and help them "discover" the right guitar for them and share the "musician" experience.
As for telling stories etc, well my life has been one series of accidents and tradgedies all linked together so I guess it all depends on who is telling the story.
Ultimately, it was a good time had by all and that is what is most important.
Cliff enjoy the 12 string! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . . Al was probably in the basement squeezing some poor bastard's head in a vice . . ."
No Bailey, that wasn't the case, but funny you should bring that up . . .
Over the course of our visit, we occasionally asked where Al's wife Sue was. Every time Al nervously responded that she was "at the gym" or "shopping with her mom" . . .
. . . but every time during Al's responses there was this uncanny muffled scream and scratching noise coming up through the floorboards :D
Had a GREAT time Al, Thanks!!
Can't wait for this Sat. nite to use my new 12-string on it's first gig! This being my first ever shallow-bowl guitar, I can't get over how comfortable it is to play and how full it sounds acoustically (VASTLY different from any of the Celebrities that I've test-driven in stores).
Johnny and I had BLAST passing around a WIDE variety of guitars that we wanted to try (and hopefully steal) - a wood-top Adamas dreadnaught prototype, the redwood top Collector's Edition, Melissa 6-strings, Elite T's, the "Century" Collector's Edition, Hamers and various custom jobs. John and I passed 'em back and forth like $20 hookers at a Shriner's convention while poor Al was trudging up and down the stairs with more and more cases and popping 'em open like a sommerlier opening fine wines. I don't know who had more fun - us or him!
Poor Michele and Jeanette just stared at the floor shaking their heads because they now knew that the old argument of ". . there's no room for another guitar . ." had now been lost.
Those textured-top shallow-bowl Adamases that Al has ROCKED!! Jeanette even said that she was blown away by the sound of 'em (and even suggested I buy that one instead - but alas, was a little over yesterday's allotted "budget").
I'm MORE than happy with the 1866 Legend!
It's the perfect gigging 12 for me (right now).
And thanks for the GREAT deal on it Al!(in fact, in the car I told John just what a good deal it was and he refused to talk to me the rest of the way home). :D
Barring horrendous NJ Turnpike traffic, a very fun time was had by all!
Thank Again! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Cliff
Sue is out shopping eh...yeah... out with her moom..that's it? what do you mean? Sure she is eh...out....
Glad to have you over and it was fun showing you guitars that you could never see any other place. As I stated earlier it is always fun to hang out with other musicians and get different perspectives etc.
Although it has been said that I can control much of what happens in New Jersey... the NJ turnpike is not one of them. Hope the ride home was not too horrendous. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | A few little nice remarks, and who knows what happens to those that disagree, having your teeth and fingernails extracted without any type of anesthetic, certainly will lead to agreement to what otherwise would be anathema. The Al Certainly fits this profile, even though he keeps claiming that he is "JUST A Helpless Bystander". I still seem to have a desire to buy a 12 string. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Welll
Maybe there was a little bit of envy there that I didn't get to see all those vintage guitars. The picture of Al presenting those vintage instruments like a FRENCH sommelier has a STRANGELY interesting appeal. "Pop the cork on that Adamas 12 string, m'sewer, and I weeel partake of it's cork essence, and if acceptable, I might include it in my repast, send the bill to Miles please".
Bailey |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I truly love guitars.
I have many opinions about them some popular some not.
If there has ever been one constant in my life it has been music.
A few years ago I went to a high school reunion, I never bothered with that sort of thing kinda like to keep the past in the past and move forward, one of the things that amazed me is that most everyone that remembered me commented on my guitar playing and wondered if I still played. In fact I found out that I inspired one classmate to later go on and learn to play bass and guitar. It was at that moment that I realized I was doing it all wrong and had to make a change in my life and the gear business went from part time to full time. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Epilogue:
Used the new Legend-12 for the first time Saturday night "plugged-in" in a working situation (pic in Gallery). It sounded awesome!!!
I couldn't get over the difference in output in the Op-X as compared to my old FET-3. I had to seriously "back down" on my normal guitar P.A. setting. Jeanette went to the "back of the house" and said the sound of the guitar just FILLED the room. What bliss!
Thanks again, Al!!
Once the "dust settles" from this recent purchase, we'll talk about a "six-banger".
(I feel a bout of shallow-bowl GAS coming on!) ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | Two things:
1. Cliff, that's a great pic (but button up your shirt -- this is your mother talking). It's a wonderful thing to play a really good guitar, not just a stop gap. And your Legend 12 string is a really good guitar.
2. Al, I understand exactly what you are saying about music. I was never considered a good guitar player in high school (in fact, some would never consider me that now!), but I stayed with it, and 30 years later, when I look back and see all the joy and all the friends that playing has given me, I feel extremely blessed and fortunate. Music gives so much in so many ways. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Thanks, Paul.
Couldn't help it with the shirt, though.
It was friggin' HOT in there Sat. night
(and NO! that's NOT a grey mohair t-shirt
that I'm wearing under that shirt!!) :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 396
| What's with these people buying new 12 strings? I'm getting more and more jealous. Since you guys were testing out the 12s, tell me about the UNPLUGGED sound. Did you test the 1866 against the 1858? How about the 6759 balladeer. Let me know your thoughts. I might have to give Al a call myself. And Cliff, beautiful guitar but please button the shirt! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | Just an observation, I played a Balladeer 12 next to a Melissa Ethridge 12 in a guitar center a while back. Both were good but the ME had a more deep sound. The Balladeer was more high end oriented like my old GC 12. Neither could hold a candle to Big Blue (93 Adamas 12). |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Cliff,
Just curious as to what songs you're using the 1866 Legend on??? Or did you play it the whole gig??? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | First of all, it's just "new" to me (it's a '96).
Secondly, while Johnny and I DID play a BUNCH of different 12's there, I didn't intentionally A/B this particular guitar against the others.
My purchasing this guitar was almost pre-ordained before we showed up at Al's door. I needed a 12-gigger, Al needed to make room for new inventory. Al gave me a price that I couldn't refuse and we made the two hour drive to pick it up. I really like the unplugged sound of this guitar (even though it was not a major factor in my buying it). I like a bright, shimmery, "harpsichord" quality to 12-strings (like on old Genesis/Renaissance recordings) and this guitar had this (and understandably, not a lot of "punch" on the bass). The first time Rick and I rehearsed with it in my garage (we rehearse "unplugged"), I'll admit that it was a bit difficult to get "equal billing" against Rick's Fender acoustic, but it's unfair to compare it against a dreadnaught acoustic.
Just to beat a dead horse just ONE more time, the textured top Adamas 12's that Al has available have "MUCHO Cojones" unplugged!!! Lotsa bass, lotsa "punch" for a shallow bowl! The Legend-12 was just more cost-effective for me, right now.
I'll work on "buttoning" that shirt in PhotoShop. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Paul(Wag);
No. Didn't use it throughout the entire gig.
Can't remember verbatim which songs, but stuff like:
"Wish You Were Here" "Comfortably Numb" (Floyd)
"Tangerine" "Thank You" "Ramble On" (Zep)
"Handle With Care" (Willburys)
"Me & Julio" (P. Simon)
"We Can Work It Out" "You've Got To Hide..." (Beatles)
"Patience" (G&R)
"Every Rose..." (Poison)
"Hotel California" "Teguila Sunrise" (Eagles)
"Marrakesh Express" "Southern Cross" (CS&N)
"Elderly Woman . . . . ." (Pearl Jam)
"Tiny Dancer" "Rocketman" (Elton John)
"Hard Luck Woman" (Kiss)
"Ooo La La" (Faces)
"Wanted Dead or Alive" (BonJovi)
"Drive" (Incubus)
"Squeeze Box" (Who)
"I'm a Believer" (Monkees)
"Meet Virginia" (Train)
"Maggie May" (Rod Stewart)
. . . and I forget what else.
Most of the other stuff I either fingerpick, or I'm flailing and punching at the strings so much that it would just sound too "muddy" on the twelve. That's where the CBalladeer just takes a BEATIN' (and just keeps asking for "more"!). |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | btw:
The shirt's been "buttoned".
bastards :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | It's just that it's so damned odd to see such a fuzzy grey sweater worn under a shirt. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3650
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | New name for your group, "Hirsute Pursuits". As one of the follicularly gifted, I say, "If you got it; flaunt it!" |
|
| |
Over the hills and through the woods to Al's...
